MSGG20, I did say it, and I do say it again. This is what it means to be a "leper" and be treated as such. The cong. will view this as a go-ahead for pre-emptive shunning. They will avoid you (and your family) socially. This is not a prophecy, this is a fact. Been there, done that. View this as your first badge of honor.
Posts by Vidqun
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100CRAZINESS!!! I'M BEING 'MARKED' FOR GOING TO COLLEGE!!!
by MsGrowingGirl20 inohmygosh!!!
one of my friends who is a ms told me today that the elders have 'marked' me because i'm a reg.pioneer and i've decided to go to college next semester???!
he said he can't tell me anymore but to be careful---what the hell does 'mark' mean?
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Is the Watchtower shy about repeating their new "generation" teaching?
by slimboyfat inas i recall in the 1980s talks and watchtower literature, magazines and books were always talking about the "generation" teaching and how it proved armageddon was going to come any day now.. but am i correct in thinking they have only actually mentioned the new "overlapping generations" teaching once or twice in the literature?
why are they so shy about talking about their great new interpretation?
it's almost enough to make you suspect they are a embarrassed about it.. mention it once or twice, don't dwell on it, hope everyone just accepts it, and don't bring it up again.
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Vidqun
Djeggnog,
Thanks for answering point 6 as well as the PS. Is your silence on the other points an indication that you agree with them? I take that as a yes, because it is the truth and you value the truth, don't you? Again wonderful illustrations that have nothing to do with the points under discussion. It is one way of avoiding straight answers. Yes, then there is the lack of language proficiency in the congregations. What do you expect from an illiterate people that is discouraged from investing in Higher Education?
Your eloquence in the English language is cancelled out by your obnoxious personality. Is that why you hang out with a bunch of apostates, because your brothers and sisters avoid you? Well, in that case I am sorry for you. Unfortunately you will find that this place is not conducive for cultivating the fruits of the spirit. In case you have wondered about them, these can be found at Galatians 5:22, 23. You certainly need a refresher course in them.
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Is the Watchtower shy about repeating their new "generation" teaching?
by slimboyfat inas i recall in the 1980s talks and watchtower literature, magazines and books were always talking about the "generation" teaching and how it proved armageddon was going to come any day now.. but am i correct in thinking they have only actually mentioned the new "overlapping generations" teaching once or twice in the literature?
why are they so shy about talking about their great new interpretation?
it's almost enough to make you suspect they are a embarrassed about it.. mention it once or twice, don't dwell on it, hope everyone just accepts it, and don't bring it up again.
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Vidqun
Sorry, I never addressed my response.
Djeggnog, this is for you.
I know you said you’re not comfortable discussing this with me, but seeing you don’t mind getting personal, I have freedom of speech to say my say. This is JWN, and I think we are allowed to do that:
Firstly, I thought your illustration of the convention was amusing. Do use it in a talk. The R&F will love it. Pity a convention is three to five days long, not exactly what we are discussing here, is it? But you love to obfuscate and convolute the issues with inane arguments (nice word “obfuscate”, thanks 00Dad).
Secondly, please do not associate God’s spirit with your hit and miss theology. It is disgusting and it dishonours God. God’s spirit doesn’t go “enie, menie, minie, mou….” Please, you are giving God and his spirit a bad name, i.e., blasphemy. You don’t want to do that, do you?
Thirdly, you candidly avoid the subject of selective quoting and dishonest scholarship, because you know it to be true. The writers of the Society don’t like quoting sources. How often have you seen, “According to a Greek scholar…” No quote, no source. Whether you like it or not, that’s dishonest. They don’t want you to look it up, because you will see it is a partial or misquote. I gave you a few examples, but you ignored them, because the truth hurts. Sorry about that.
Fourthly, I gave you a dictionary definition of the word “contemporary.” The plural of this word occurs in both quotes of the Society (from the Dictionary as well as the Lexicon). Whether you define the word or interpret it, it can only mean: “happening, living, existing, or coming into being at the same period of time, one that is contemporary with another, or one of the same or nearly the same age as another.”
Fifth point is a question, Where do you think the Society got the information from, contained in the Aid and Insight books? Did a lot of the information not come from Christendom’s commentaries? But how can that be? Christendom resorts under the harlot, Babylon the Great. Unfortunately the R&F doesn’t know that, because most of the time they don’t quote or give their sources, because they are dishonest.
Sixth, and final point, I never questioned the scholarship of the NWT. You inferred it. I did ask YOU whether there was a problem with the translation of the word “generation”, because the latest explanation does not fit the original translation of the word. But I think you are either thick or you love to obfuscate, as stated previously.
PS The Beasts of Revelation, let’s not go there. If you don’t know the beasts or their history in the Society's literature, rather avoid the subject altogether, otherwise you might just throw your name away.
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Is the Watchtower shy about repeating their new "generation" teaching?
by slimboyfat inas i recall in the 1980s talks and watchtower literature, magazines and books were always talking about the "generation" teaching and how it proved armageddon was going to come any day now.. but am i correct in thinking they have only actually mentioned the new "overlapping generations" teaching once or twice in the literature?
why are they so shy about talking about their great new interpretation?
it's almost enough to make you suspect they are a embarrassed about it.. mention it once or twice, don't dwell on it, hope everyone just accepts it, and don't bring it up again.
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Vidqun
Transhuman68, you remind me of the poster of Johnny English: He knows no fear. He knows no danger. He knows nothing.
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245
Is the Watchtower shy about repeating their new "generation" teaching?
by slimboyfat inas i recall in the 1980s talks and watchtower literature, magazines and books were always talking about the "generation" teaching and how it proved armageddon was going to come any day now.. but am i correct in thinking they have only actually mentioned the new "overlapping generations" teaching once or twice in the literature?
why are they so shy about talking about their great new interpretation?
it's almost enough to make you suspect they are a embarrassed about it.. mention it once or twice, don't dwell on it, hope everyone just accepts it, and don't bring it up again.
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Vidqun
I know you said you’re not comfortable discussing this with me, but seeing you don’t mind getting personal, I have freedom of speech to say my say. This is JWN, and I think we are allowed to do that:
Firstly, I thought your illustration of the convention was amusing. Do use it in a talk. The R&F will love it. Pity a convention is three to five days long, not exactly what we are discussing here, is it? But you love to obfuscate and convolute the issues with inane arguments (nice word “obfuscate”, thanks 00Dad).
Secondly, please do not associate God’s spirit with your hit and miss theology. It is disgusting and it dishonours God. God’s spirit doesn’t go “enie, menie, minie, mou….” Please, you are giving God and his spirit a bad name, i.e., blasphemy. You don’t want to do that, do you?
Thirdly, you candidly avoid the subject of selective quoting and dishonest scholarship, because you know it to be true. The writers of the Society don’t like quoting sources. How often have you seen, “According to a Greek scholar…” No quote, no source. Whether you like it or not, that’s dishonest. They don’t want you to look it up, because you will see it is a partial or misquote. I gave you a few examples, but you ignored them, because the truth hurts. Sorry about that.
Fourthly, I gave you a dictionary definition of the word “contemporary.” The plural of this word occurs in both quotes of the Society (from the Dictionary as well as the Lexicon). Whether you define the word or interpret it, it can only mean: “happening, living, existing, or coming into being at the same period of time, one that is contemporary with another, or one of the same or nearly the same age as another.”
Fifth point is a question, Where do you think the Society got the information from, contained in the Aid and Insight books? Did a lot of the information not come from Christendom’s commentaries? But how can that be? Christendom resorts under the harlot, Babylon the Great. Unfortunately the R&F doesn’t know that, because most of the time they don’t quote or give their sources, because they are dishonest.
Sixth, and final point, I never questioned the scholarship of the NWT. You inferred it. I did ask YOU whether there was a problem with the translation of the word “generation”, because the latest explanation does not fit the original translation of the word. But I think you are either thick or you love to obfuscate, as stated previously.
PS The Beasts of Revelation, let’s not go there. If you don’t know the beasts or their history in the Society's literature, rather avoid the subject altogether, otherwise you might just throw your name away.
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245
Is the Watchtower shy about repeating their new "generation" teaching?
by slimboyfat inas i recall in the 1980s talks and watchtower literature, magazines and books were always talking about the "generation" teaching and how it proved armageddon was going to come any day now.. but am i correct in thinking they have only actually mentioned the new "overlapping generations" teaching once or twice in the literature?
why are they so shy about talking about their great new interpretation?
it's almost enough to make you suspect they are a embarrassed about it.. mention it once or twice, don't dwell on it, hope everyone just accepts it, and don't bring it up again.
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Vidqun
Excellent Smiddy! Your definition is in line with the Lexicon definition. Common sense rules!
Djeggnog, allow me to delve into some “honest interpretation.” Take note: This is a prediction. The present light of two groups, those who are born and those who die, making up “this generation”, being incomprehensible to a normal person, calls for “new light.” In the foreseeable future we will be told that, as such, the word “generation” is of secondary importance, if fact it is meaningless. Because of being followed by a negative connotation in most cases of NT use, the emphasis should be on the sinfulness of the people, rather than the “genealogical” element. One should therefore not view the word “generation” as a chronological marker, but rather as a qualitative noun. This “new light” would mark the end of the Society’s current “generation” problem.
2. Almost all the remaining NT genea-passages speak of “this generation” (he genea haute). This construction in Greek, with the demonstrative regularly following its noun, is clearly the equivalent of haddor hazzeh. It is interesting that the OT does not know this stereotyped phrase in its NT sense, though Ps. 12:7 comes very close to it (cf. Gen. 7:1; Exod. 1:6; Deut. 1:35). In these passages the demonstrative has a pejorative character, i.e. the reference is to a class of people who in this world stand over against the children of light and are further described as faithless (Mk. 9:19), faithless and perverse (Matt. 17:17), adulterous (Mk. 8:38), evil and adulterous (Matt. 12:39), evil (Lk. 11:29), crooked (Acts 2:40), crooked and perverse (Phil. 2:15). The Song of Moses in Deut. 32 (32:5 and 32:20) seems here to have had a certain influence on the wording. In these passages the temporal, “genealogical” element is completely absent. The emphasis lies entirely on the sinfulness of this class, this type of people.
3. In Jesus’ discourse about the future the phrase clearly bears this second meaning: Mk. 13:30; Matt. 24:34; Lk. 21:32. Indeed, in every other NT passage where haute forms part of this phrase, it has the same pejorative character. But since the discourse refers to this genea “passing away”, the temporal, genealogical element is also present, though of secondary importance.
Morgenthaler, R., & Brown, C. (1986). Generation. In L. Coenen, E. Beyreuther & H. Bietenhard (Eds.), . Vol. 2: New international dictionary of New Testament theology (L. Coenen, E. eyreuther & H. Bietenhard, Ed.) (36). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
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Is the Watchtower shy about repeating their new "generation" teaching?
by slimboyfat inas i recall in the 1980s talks and watchtower literature, magazines and books were always talking about the "generation" teaching and how it proved armageddon was going to come any day now.. but am i correct in thinking they have only actually mentioned the new "overlapping generations" teaching once or twice in the literature?
why are they so shy about talking about their great new interpretation?
it's almost enough to make you suspect they are a embarrassed about it.. mention it once or twice, don't dwell on it, hope everyone just accepts it, and don't bring it up again.
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Vidqun
Djeggnog, remember we spoke about dishonest scholarship in an earlier thread. First of all, check out the English meaning of “contemporary”. I know you don’t like Webster, but humor me. Secondly, study the quotes according to the Watchtower. Thirdly, study the quotes in the Dictionaries and Lexicons. Can you spot the difference? That’s what I call dishonest scholarship.
con•tem•po•rary \ k?n-'tem-p?-?rer-e, -?re-re \ adj
[com- + L tempor-, tempus] 1631
1: happening, existing, living, or coming into being during the same period of time
2a: simultaneous
b: marked by characteristics of the present period : modern , current — con•tem•po•rar•i•ly \ -?tem-p?-'rer-?-le \ adv
syn contemporary , contemporaneous , coeval , synchronous , simultaneous , coincident mean existing or occurring at the same time. contemporary is likely to apply to people and what relates to them Abraham Lincoln was contemporary with Charles Darwin > . contemporaneous is more often applied to events than to people contemporaneous accounts of the kidnapping > . coeval refers usu. to periods, ages, eras, eons two stars thought to be coeval > . synchronous implies exact correspondence in time and esp. in periodic intervals synchronous timepieces > . simultaneous implies correspondence in a moment of time the two shots were simultaneous > . coincident is applied to events and may be used in order to avoid implication of causal relationship the end of World War II was coincident with a great vintage year > .
———————
2contemporary n
pl -rar•ies 1638
1: one that is contemporary with another
2: one of the same or nearly the same age as another
Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Watchtower Quotation:
The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology
" Those born at the same time .... Associated with this is the meaning: the body of one’s contemporaries, an age ."
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament from Walter Bauer’s Fifth Edition, 1958
" The sum total of those born at the same time, expanded to include all those living at a given time generation, contemporaries. " (Page 5)
Dictionary Quotation:
Vol. 2 : New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology
CL & OT genea, derived from the root gen-, means birth, also (noble) descent, then descendants, family, race (i.e., those bound together by a common origin). Those born at the same time constitute a generation (“three generations of men are a hundred years”, Hdt. 2, 142). Associated with this is the meaning: the body of one’s contemporaries, an age. In the LXXgenea is almost always the translation of dôr and means generation, in which case the whole history of Israel is often regarded as a work of God extending through many generations, from generation to generation”, “from all generations”).
Morgenthaler, R., & Brown, C. (1986). Generation. In L. Coenen, E. Beyreuther & H. Bietenhard (Eds.), . Vol. 2: New international dictionary of New Testament theology (L. Coenen, E. Beyreuther & H. Bietenhard, Ed.) (35). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
? the sum total of those born at the same time, expanded to include all those living at a given time and freq. defined in terms of specific characteristics, generation, contemporaries (Hom. et al.; BGU 1211, 12 [II b.c. ]; Jesus looks upon the whole contemp. generation of Israel as a uniform mass confronting him (cp. Gen 7:1; Ps 11:8) Mt 11:16; 12:41f; 23:36; 24:34; Mk 13:30; Lk 7:31; 11:29–32,50f; 17:25; 21:32 (EGraesser, ZNW Beih. 22, 2 ’60). S. also 1 above.
Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed.) (191–192). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
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Want honest answers
by independenthinker ini've wanted to make this account for the past 2 weeks, but ive been afraid that ill get caught by posting.
do they check this site?.
im 18 years old,baptized at 14. really my problems started a few weeks ago.
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Vidqun
Welcome Independentthinker. My little fantasy world as JW also crumbled after I found out about the UN-NGO debacle. I knew things were not always above board, but I ignored all the warning signs. I recently did a lot of research on "the disgusting thing causing desolation" and "the beast from the abyss," and to find out the Society was an NGO of the UN for nine years (1992-2002) shocked me to my foundations. Although they resigned in 2002 (from the UN), they are still actively involved with the UN in different countries. As one elder explained it to me: It is not wrong because they can do so much good by helping the brothers, when they work with the different UN organizations. And of course, they can also access funds made available by the UN for relief efforts. So, if you have any questions, feel free to ask.
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Does the WT still use Zech.8:23 as a last days prophecy ? In veiw of the fact (evidently) the numbers of converts are decreasing worldwide ?
by smiddy inthis is a scripture that was used a lot during the 70`s & 80`s proving that the end was so close,and it was to culminate in a grand influx before the great tribulation.
" it will be in those days that ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold,yes ,they will actually take hold of the skirt of a man who is a jew,saying,"we will go with you people for we have heard that god is with you people.".
when you look at the reality of the situation in this day....,their seems to be a marked decline in worldly converts in christendoms lands.....,mainly baptisms coming from young born ins,..... and certainly no marked increases from either asian, oriental, or other non christian lands,that would seem to indicate another failed prediction/prophecy we can credit to the f&ds class.
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Vidqun
smiddt, the one in Zechariah crops up in the literature now and then. One scripture that stood out in the nineties was Isaiah 60:22: "The little one himself will become a thousand, and the small one a mighty nation." Others that were quite popular are the doves flying in to their dove cotes (Is. 60:8) and the tent pegs that need to shift to accomodate all those coming in (Is. 54:2). An elder told me he believes while there is an increase Jehovah it means that Jehovah is blessing their work. If there is a serious decline in converts in the near future, be assured, they will find new scriptures to back that up, e.g., the love of the greater number will cool off (Matt. 24:12), etc.
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Watchtower's United Nations Association
by Celestial intemporarily, there's confusion until i get the facts straight: .
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/united-nations-association.php .
http://www.jehovahsjudgment.co.uk/watchtower-un-ngo/default.html .
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Vidqun
00DAD, I thought I'd leave the research to Celestial. Here's most of them at short notice, seeing that you asked so nicely.
To take out membership for a library card? There you would exchange your birthright for a pot of lentil stew, i.e., a library card (cf. Hebr. 12:16). I'd call that despising sacred things according to WT theology.
w02 5/1 11
8 Why did Paul link Esau’s actions to fornication? Because having the mentality of Esau can lead a person to fail to appreciate sacred things. In turn, this can result in serious sins, such as fornication. Hence, each of us might ask: ‘Am I sometimes tempted to barter my Christian inheritance—everlasting life—for something as transient as a bowl of lentil stew? Perhaps without realizing it, do I despise sacred things?’
w89 12/15 14
Becoming disgruntled, dissatisfied, finding fault with the way things are done in the congregation can be like a “poisonous root” that can quickly spread and poison the wholesome thoughts of others in the congregation. We can counteract such negative thoughts by contemplating the countless blessings that the truth has brought into our life. (Psalm 40:5) Another danger is that of having immoral tendencies or a ‘lack of appreciation for sacred things, like Esau.’ (Hebrews 12:16) Paul links these two dangers together, since the one can easily lead to the other.
And it was hammered into our heads, friendship with the word is enmity with God (James 4:4). Here he is referring to "spiritual fornication" (cf. 1 Cor. 5:9-13; 6:9, 10).
w97 11/15 19, 20
4 Worldliness, envy, and pride existed among certain early Christians. (James 4:4-6) James calls some “adulteresses” because they were friends of the world and thus guilty of spiritual adultery. (Ezekiel 16:15-19, 25-45)
Rs 438
Jas. 4:4: “Adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.” (Because Christians are imperfect, they may at times get soiled through contacts with the world. But when counseled from God’s Word, they repent and correct their ways. However, if some, by deliberate choice, ally themselves with the world or imitate its spirit, they show that they no longer are true Christians but have become part of the world that is at enmity with God. )
It-1 864
SymbolicUse. Jehovah God spoke of the nation of Israel in covenant relationship to him as “a wife.” (Isa 54:5, 6) When the nation became unfaithful to him, ignoring him and turning to other nations such as Egypt and Assyria for help and entering into alliances with them, Israel was like an unfaithful wife, an adulteress, a prostitute, one carrying on fornication promiscuously. (Eze 16:15, 25-29) Likewise, if Christians in a dedicated relationship to God, or professing such a relationship, are unfaithful by engaging in false worship or by being friends of the world, they are called adulteresses. —Jas 4:4.
It-2 867
The apostle Paul associates Satan with “the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places,” and he speaks of them as “the world rulers of this darkness.” (Eph 6:11, 12) As a governing force in the invisible realm immediately about the earth, Satan is “the ruler of the authority of the air.” (Eph 2:2) In Revelation he is shown to be the one “misleading the entire inhabited earth.” (Re 12:9) The apostle John said that “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” (1Jo 5:19) He is therefore “the ruler of this world.” (Joh 12:31) That is why James wrote that “the friendship with the world is enmity with God.”—Jas 4:4.
Tp 124-126
22 So, the Bible shows we have a clear choice. At James 4:4 we read: “Do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.” God also has his standards for friendship, and they are not in harmony with those of the world of sinful mankind. —Psalm 15:1-5.
Abomination causing desolation
In the book of Daniel one distinguishes two abominations. Jesus, in his discourse on the Mount of Olives, indicated that Rome and its Pax Romana would be the “[great] abomination causing desolation” (cf. Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15; Luk. 21:20).
w99 5/1 14-15
3 After outlining the sign, Jesus said: “When you catch sight of the disgusting thing that causes desolation, as spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in a holy place, (let the reader use discernment,) then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains. Let the man on the housetop not come down to take the goods out of his house; and let the man in the field not return to the house to pick up his outer garment. Woe to the pregnant women and those suckling a baby in those days! Keep praying that your flight may not occur in wintertime, nor on the sabbath day; for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning.”—Matthew 24:15-21.
4 The accounts by Mark and Luke provide supplemental details. Where Matthew uses “standing in a holy place,” Mark 13:14 says “standing where it ought not.” Luke 21:20 adds Jesus’ words: “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near.” This helps us to see that the first fulfillment involved the Roman assault on Jerusalem and its temple—a place holy to the Jews but no longer the place holy to Jehovah—which began in 66 C.E. Complete desolation occurred when the Romans destroyed both city and temple in 70 C.E. What was “ the disgusting thing ” back then? And how did it ‘stand in a holy place’? Answers to these questions will help to clarify the modern-day fulfillment.
5 Jesus urged readers to use discernment. Readers of what? Likely, of Daniel chapter 9. There we find a prophecy indicating when Messiah would appear and foretelling that he would be “cut off” after three and a half years. The prophecy says: “Upon the wing of disgustingthings there will be the one causing desolation; and until an extermination, the very thing decided upon will go pouring out also upon the one lying desolate.”—Daniel 9:26, 27; see also Daniel 11:31; 12:11.
6 The Jews thought that this applied to the profanation of the temple by Antiochus IV about 200 years earlier. However, Jesus showed otherwise, urging discernment because “the disgusting thing” was yet to appear and stand in “a holy place.” It is apparent that Jesus was referring to the Roman army that would come in 66 C.E. with distinctive ensigns. Such standards, long in use, were virtual idols and were disgusting to the Jews. When, though, would they ‘stand in a holy place’? That happened when the Roman army, with its ensigns, attacked Jerusalem and its temple, which the Jews considered holy. The Romans even began to undermine the wall of the temple area. Truly, what had long been disgusting now stood in a holy place!—Isaiah 52:1; Matthew 4:5; 27:53; Acts 6:13.
The “[ultimate] abomination causing desolation”, is a creation of both the King of the North and South (cf. Dan. 8:13; 11:31). This refers to the League of Nations, and the United Nations, which as a peacekeeper, stands in the place of God’s kingdom, an abomination in God’s sight (cf. Ps. 46:8, 9; 72:3, 7, 8; Is. 2:4; Mic. 4:3).
Dp 269
‘THEDISGUSTINGTHINGISPUTINPLACE’
23 When the end of the second world war was in sight, another development occurred, just as God’s angel had foretold. “They will certainly put in place the disgusting thing that is causing desolation.” (Daniel 11:31b) Jesus had also spoken of “the disgusting thing.” In the first century, it proved to be the Roman army that came to Jerusalem in 66 C.E. to put down Jewish rebellion.—Matthew 24:15; Daniel 9:27.
24 What “disgusting thing” has been “put in place” in modern times? Apparently, it is a “disgusting” counterfeit of God’s Kingdom. This was the League of Nations , the scarlet-colored wild beast that went into the abyss, or ceased to exist as a world-peace organization, when World War II erupted. (Revelation 17:8) “The wild beast,” however, was “to ascend out of the abyss.” This it did when the United Nations, with 50 member nations including the former Soviet Union, was established on October 24, 1945. Thus “the disgusting thing” foretold by the angel—the United Nations —was put in place.
Beast that ascends out of the abyss
This is the beast that “was, but is not, and yet is destined to ascend out of the abyss” (of inactivity). After World War I it would start off as the League of Nations, disappearing in the clouds of World War II. Afterwards it would be resurrected as the United Nations (cf. Rev. 17:8, 11).
w99 5/1 17-18
15 Revelation depicts “ a scarlet-colored wild beast ” that exists for a time, disappears, and then returns. (Revelation 17:3, 8) This beast is supported by world rulers. Details supplied in the prophecy help us to identify this symbolic beast as a peace organization that came into existence in 1919 as the League of Nations (a “ disgusting thing ”) and that is now the United Nations. Revelation 17:16, 17 shows that God will yet put it into the hearts of certain human rulers who are prominent in this “beast” to desolate the world empire of false religion. That attack marks the outbreak of the great tribulation.
16 Since the start of the great tribulation is yet future, is the “standing in a holy place” still ahead of us? Evidently so. While “the disgusting thing” made its appearance early in this century and has, thus, existed for decades, it will take a position in a unique way “in a holy place” in the near future. As first-century followers of Christ must have keenly watched to see how the “standing in a holy place” would develop, so do present-day Christians. Admittedly, we will have to wait for the actual fulfillment to know all the details.
Revelation Climax, ch. 18, p. 246.
Ascending outoftheAbyss
6 The scarlet-colored wild beast did indeed climb out of the abyss. On June 26, 1945, with noisy fanfare in San Francisco, U.S.A., 50 nations voted to accept the Charter of the United Nations organization. This body was “to maintain international peace and security.” There were many similarities between the League and the UN. TheWorldBookEncyclopedia notes: “In some ways, the UN resembles the League of Nations, which was organized after World War I . . . Many of the nations that founded the UN had also founded the League. Like the League, the UN was established to help keep peace between nations. The main organs of the UN are much like those of the League.” The UN, then, is actually a revival of the scarlet-colored wild beast. Its membership of some 190 nations far exceeds that of the League’s 63; it has also taken on broader responsibilities than its predecessor.
7 At first, great hopes were expressed for the UN. This was in fulfillment of the angel’s words: “Andwhentheyseehowthewildbeastwas,butisnot,andyetwillbepresent,thosewhodwellontheearthwillwonderadmiringly,buttheirnameshavenotbeenwrittenuponthescrolloflifefromthefoundingoftheworld.”(Revelation17:8b) Earth’s dwellers have admired this new colossus, operating from its imposing headquarters on New York’s East River.
One law
Close cooperation between the “little flock” and “the other sheep” would be prefigured by arrangements for the Passover celebration of ancient Israel. The Israelite, as well as the alien resident, had to observe the Passover: “There should exist one statute for YOU people, both for the alien resident and for the native of the land.” (Num. 9:14)
ws chapt. 14, para 4
4 Being inscribed upon the heart, those laws would be less likely to cease being loved by those who obeyed them. If those laws were put “in their mind,” they would be less likely to forget them. Hence, the keepers of those laws say, in the words of Psalm 119:97: “How I do love your law! All day long it is my concern.” From their most inward being, they set their affections upon Jehovah’s laws as given through his Mediator, Jesus Christ. Thus, with the right motivation, they determine to keep those precious laws . This applies both to the “little flock” in the new covenant and to the “great crowd” of “other sheep” who are, not in the new covenant, but under it .—Compare 1 John 5:3; John 14:15.
Isaiah Book: 56:6—Who are“theforeigners,”andinwhatwaysarethey“layingholdof[Jehovah’s]covenant”? “The foreigners” are Jesus’ “other sheep.” (John 10:16) They lay hold of the new covenant in that they obey the laws related to that covenant, cooperate fully with the arrangements made through it, partake of the same spiritual food as anointed Christians do, and support them in the Kingdom-preaching and disciple-making work.